Meditation and Substance Abuse

Meditation and Substance Abuse refers to research on mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) and meditation interventions for substance use disorders.

Summary

MBRP integrates mindfulness meditation with relapse prevention strategies for alcohol, opioid, and other substance use disorders.

Key Findings

MBRP reduces substance use and craving compared to standard relapse prevention and 12-step programs at 6-month follow-up. Mindfulness training alters neural responses to drug cues in the reward circuitry. Meditation reduces the automaticity of addictive behavior through enhanced interoceptive awareness.

Methodology

RCTs compare MBRP to active controls (12-step facilitation, health education) with substance use outcomes measured by self-report and biological assays (urine drug screens, breathalyzer).

Limitations

Attrition is high in substance use populations. Long-term outcomes beyond 12 months are rarely reported. Generalizability to diverse substance types is uncertain.

Verification Notes

• Bowen et al. (2014) landmark trial and subsequent meta-analyses inform findings.
• Literature reviewed through 2020s.